Name chosen for new San Anselmo park donated by George Lucas

Imagination Park has emerged the winner in a name-the-park contest for the new downtown San Anselmo park that will house bronze statues of the George Lucas characters Indiana Jones and Yoda.

The San Anselmo Community Foundation, which is attempting to raise the money to pay for construction and maintenance of the park, sponsored a contest to select the name. Seventy-six people paid $25 for the privilege of submitting their preferred name. Three people — David Donery, Bob Atwood and Lauren Matthys — had the same idea: Imagination Park. Their names will be engraved on a boulder that will be part of the park's fountain structure.

Other suggested names included Wonder Park, Hope Plaza, Tranquility Park Gardens, The Junction, The Plaza, Reflection Park, Dreamer's Park, LightHub City Park, Imagineer Park, May the Force Be With You Park, Hoo-Koo-E-Koo Park and Chew Parka.

"Many of them were exactly what we said don't do," said San Anselmo Chamber of Commerce CEO Connie Rodgers. Entrants were told that the name should not refer to George Lucas or any of his fictional creations, she said. Lucas, who has a home in San Anselmo, donated the land for the park and razed a building to make room for it; but Lucas made it known that he didn't want the park named after him.

Rodgers said that so far the San Anselmo Community Foundation has raised about $105,000 of its $300,000 goal. The park is nearing completion and at 5 p.m. June 20 there will an "official" unveiling of the statues.